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Man Utd continue to invest in Asian market

Manchester United have added Japan-based soft drinks manufacturer Kagome to their growing list of Asian partners, reports SportsPro.
The three-year deal, which runs until the end of the 2015/16 season, sees Kagome become the Red Devils soft drink partner in Japan.

United have been steadily growing their Asian portfolio in recent months, having signed deals with the likes of Zong, a Pakistani mobile telecommunications company, and Malaysian snacks maker Mamee Double Decker.

The club's specific focus on Japan, where it claims to have 'almost four million followers', follows its summer signing of midfield playmaker Shinji Kagawa and has seen it sign deals with Yanmar, Japan's leading engineering company, and broadcaster Fuji TV.

Richard Arnold, United's commercial director, said of the latest deal: "Kagome's products symbolise health and wellbeing and what better way to endorse this than to partner with the number one club in the world's biggest sport.

"This is the club's first partnership of its kind and we are delighted to be able to work with such a well-established company that, like United, has over 100 years' experience in its field."

Ryo Koshino, executive officer and general manager for Kagome's corporate communication division, added: "We feel our partnership with Manchester United, which is one of the world's most popular football clubs, possessing a long history of tradition, will allow us to promote Kagome and our products to a wider audience."